This week our family laid to rest one of my best friends, my Grandma Ethel Burnett. She was my Dad's step-mother, but the only Grandma I ever knew since his mother died years before I was born. Ethel loved and treated us as if we were blood related (the way it should be). She and I were so much alike she told me often "even though we aren't blood related, somehow you are just like me". We were alike in so many ways even down to our career, we both worked in prisons.
Grandma Ethel was someone I could tell everything to and know she had my back or words of wisdom for me. She taught me to sew, and made many of my sisters and my clothes when we were little. The last thing she ever sewed I am grateful to have as it was part of my Halloween costume 2 years ago (she was 92 when she made it!). It went without say that I was her favorite granddaughter, and I don't say this to make anyone feel less loved or anything, but there was just a special bond between us. Words cannot begin to explain how full of love my heart is for this wonderful lady. She played a large role in making me who I am today. I am grateful to know that this life is not the end and even though I do not know or understand all, I know without a doubt I will see her again.
Here's what I wrote on my Facebook earlier this week. Some of it is repeated from what I have already shared, but I want to post this for myself so I can always remember my first thoughts and reaction. Ethel passed away on January 3, 2016.
"I've started to write this post several times today and have not been able to bring myself to do so. Last night my dear friend and grandma Ethel returned to live with Heavenly Father.
Growing up she was the only Grandma on my dad's side I knew, as his mother passed away before I was born. She would sew us girls clothes often, we spent summers with her and grandpa just us kids, and I even took some road trips with her. She was one of my best friends!! She loved all of us girls as we were her only grandchildren and she spoiled us rotten (I was her favorite).
I loved talking to her. Last week when I talked to her, she told me she hoped she would make it through the holidays so she wouldn't reunion them for us. She's made comments like this in years past, but this time when I got off the phone I told Clint, I really felt it was the last time I'd speak with her. I called her several times since then, but she was to ill to talk, but I wanted her to know that I still cared and was thinking about her. Our last conversation was a good one as she had me laughing more than ever even with her sickness. Words cannot express how glad I am to have that as our last real memory.
I am grateful for all she has done for myself and our family over the years. I know she isn't in pain anymore and is reunited with 3 of her own 4 children, my grandfather, LeRoy (her husband who passed away before she married my grandpa), and other family members. I love you Grandma, I'll see you again someday! Give Grandpa hugs and kisses for me."
One upside to Grandma Ethel passing is that my sister Heather came and spent some time with us. She flew into Indy and stayed and drove with us to the funeral. We live in Indiana and my grandma lived in Charleston, West Virginia which is about a 5 1/2 hour drive. Gavin enjoyed having her with us even if it was just for a few days, and so did I.
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Lunch Break on the drive there
Heather and Gavin |
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| Me and my love Clint |
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My sisters and I saying our last goodbye until we meet her again
Heather, Amy, Laura, and Me |
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My dad Bill, and his step-brother Bill
Grandma always laughed that she had 2 sons both named William, and they both went my Bill |
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| Brotherly love saying farewell to their loved mother |
With my grandfather having passed away 3 years ago everything he had went to my father since he was an only child (from his mother and father, not step). This meant his childhood house was his and the Lord knows how to bless even in the time of heartbreak. While we were there for the funeral we all sad our last goodbye not only to her but to my grandparents house and my father had just sold it. We all have many memories in that house and it was harder than I thought to say goodbye to. I know the memeories are with me and will always be but knowing I have no real connection to go back to Charleston weighs heavy on my heart. Now don't get me wrong we do have a few "distant" cousins that still live there, but not having any grandparents there anymore seems odd as both sets of my grandparents had lived there.
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| Heather's initials and hand/foot prints on the front pouch from when they built it. She was only about 18 months old or so at the time. |
